A Room Alive
2024 · 30m · Documentary
UW faculty member Lynda Barry takes center stage in this charming documentary about the “Comics Room”, where Dr. Barry and her students–including a student turned faculty, comics veteran Jeff Butler–explore their creativity through the medium of comic books, creating a lively community of artists in the process.
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Wisconsin Death Trip
1999 · ★ 5.7
Inspired by the book of the same name, film-maker James Marsh relays a tale of tragedy, murder and mayhem that erupted behind the respectable facade of Black River Falls, Wisconsin in the 19th century.
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Tale of the Spotted Cow
2015
Wonderfully candid interviews with New Glarus Brewery founders/owners Deb and Dan Carey fuel this inside look at the legend behind WIsconsin's signature craft beer, Spotted Cow. Filmmaker Bill Roach has captured endearingly down to earth and detailed anecdotes about the couple's history both in and out of the brewery, revealing a true-life rages-to-riches tale that is both touching and inspiring.
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Manlife
2017 · ★ 6
For over 80 years, Merle Hayden has crusaded to recruit members to the utopian movement Lawsonomy. Founded by aircraft pioneer Alfred Lawson, Lawsonomy advocates for economic reform and clean, communal living that transforms followers into a "New Species" that will benefit the human race either in this life or the next. Merle joined Lawson as a teenager and never looked back. His high school sweetheart Betty Kasch, however, is tired of Lawson coming between them. Reunited after over 60 years apart, non-believer Betty wants Merle to join her in Florida. Merle's commitment to preserving Lawson's legacy, artifacts currently rotting in a barn alongside a Wisconsin highway, has Betty worried Merle may leave her for Lawson once again.
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Out of Office: How Soft Hands Struck a Hard Bargain
2024
Out of Office is the story of a scrappy group of office workers in Wisconsin who managed to pull off a major victory for workers’ rights. Upon their contract’s expiration, the workers activated their dormant union and fought back against their employer - a massive financial services provider making record profits. Their fight dragged out for over 600 days and included the first strike in the company’s almost 100-year history, which was the largest labor action in Wisconsin for over ten years. A rank-and-file member of the union documented the entire struggle, and the documentary includes emotional interviews with key members of the fight.
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American Movie
1999 · ★ 7.5
American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.
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Remarkable Homes of Wisconsin
2015
Join host Michael K. Bridgeman for a tour of Wadsworth Hall in Lake Geneva, the Havilah Babcock House in Neenah, Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, the Island of Happy Days in Birchwood, the Brooks Stevens House in Fox Point and Wingspread in Wind Point. Featuring interviews and observations from historians and architects, historic photos and breathtaking video tours of each of the properties, the program reveals the inspiration behind the design of each home, the goals of the original owners and the careful preservation by modern caretakers. Decades after their construction, these treasured buildings are still a vibrant part of their communities serving as museums, meeting places, vacation destinations or private residences. Venture inside each of these spaces to uncover the splendor of Remarkable Homes of Wisconsin.
More info →Lighting the 7th Fire
1995 · ★ 8
A Chippewa prophecy foretells a time called the 7th Fire when lost traditions will be recovered. Native American filmmaker Sandra Sunrising Osawa examines how the Chippewa Indians of Northern Wisconsin have struggled to restore the centuries-old tradition of spearfishing — and the heated opposition they have encountered.
More info →Triviatown
2006 · ★ 5
This documentary is about the "World's Largest Trivia Contest" held in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Eight questions per hour are asked over 90FM, the student radio station at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, for 54 hours straight. This film highlights several trivia teams and how very differently they play the contest from the more serious teams to the teams who just get together to party. For most teams, Trivia is like an annual reunion where they can get together with family and friends and have fun doing something they all love.
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Can You Hear Us Now?
2020 · ★ 10
After eight years of one-party control, Wisconsin voters have found their lives increasingly irrelevant to state lawmakers. An ensemble of strong-willed Wisconsin women sets out to be heard in this unnerving portrait of American democracy.
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Crumb
1995 · ★ 7.5
This movie chronicles the life and times of R. Crumb. Robert Crumb is the cartoonist/artist who drew Keep On Truckin', Fritz the Cat, and played a major pioneering role in the genesis of underground comix. Through interviews with his mother, two brothers, wife, ex-wife and ex-girlfriends, as well as selections from his vast quantity of graphic art, we are treated to a darkly comic ride through one man's subconscious mind.
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Trashman: The Art of Spain Rodriguez
2012 · ★ 8
Legendary underground cartoonist Spain Rodriguez and his friends -- cartoonists Robert Crumb and Jay Kinney and cultural critic Susie Bright -- discuss Spain's art and his life as an outlaw biker, '60s figure and social satirist.
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Painted Stories About the War
2024 · ★ 6
This is a story about the Ukrainian comic book industry. The authors introduce the audience to a still little-known and under-appreciated art form in Ukraine - drawn stories. Where did this art come from? When did it appear in our country? What forms did it take in the Soviet era and how did it change in the first years of independence?
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